Youth Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)

The Youth Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program offered by The Child Center of NY is an intensive, home-based intervention designed to serve young people aged 10-21 with significant mental health challenges. The program aims to keep youth at home and engaged in their communities while receiving comprehensive treatment services, helping them avoid institutional-level care. It caters to children transitioning back to family life after residential treatment or those at risk of entering such settings. The program operates with a strengths-based approach, offering hope and actionable plans for youth and their families. Youth ACT provides a multidisciplinary team that includes licensed mental health professionals, family advocates, peer advocates, and psychiatrists. Services offered through this program encompass individual, family, and group therapy, clinical support, skill-building, medication management, and family support. Additionally, collateral support connects families to external community resources like schools, vocational programs, and afterschool activities. The overarching goal is to ensure that young people remain connected to their families and communities while addressing their mental health needs. Eligibility for Youth ACT requires that participants be residents of Manhattan, aged 10-21, and meet at least two of the following criteria: insufficient engagement in traditional mental health settings, frequent psychiatric hospitalizations, persistent severe symptoms, high use of emergency mental health services, or being discharged from or eligible for inpatient psychiatric care. Referrals to the program are processed through the Children’s Single Point of Access (CSPOA), which assesses the needs of applicants and coordinates their admission. Families uncertain about their eligibility are encouraged to reach out for assistance in identifying appropriate services. The program is funded by the New York State Office of Mental Health and operates in collaboration with GOSO. New York was the first state to implement Youth ACT teams, emphasizing the importance of providing community-based mental health care that supports family cohesion and prevents the need for residential psychiatric treatment. Governor Kathy Hochul highlighted the program's innovative approach to delivering intensive care within family and community settings. Services are offered at the GOSO location in East Harlem, with operational hours from Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Families can contact the program directly for guidance or use the interest form available online to explore their options. The Child Center of NY also offers additional home-visiting and behavioral health programs to meet the diverse needs of the community. The Child Center of NY’s central administration office is based in Forest Hills, Queens. The organization is committed to transparency and high standards of service, as reflected in its accreditation and extensive public reporting. Through programs like Youth ACT, The Child Center of NY continues to support vulnerable children and their families in achieving stability, resilience, and long-term well-being.